Amazon Delivery Robots

1. How easy is it to walk down the street in your capital city? Are there any pedestrianised areas? What happens if you walk too slowly? (in New York, it can lead to arguments) What would you change?

2. Should there be 'texting lanes' for mobile users? What etiquette rules are there/would you like to see?

3. Which of the following annoy you the most?

a) People suddenly stopping.

b) Groups filling the width of the path when walking.

c) Having your heels stepped on.

d) Dogs wandering even though they are on a lead.

e) People standing in the middle of the walkway talking.

4. What options are open to you for receiving your online orders? Do you need a more convenient way of accepting/getting deliveries? Can technology provide a solution to this?

Read article here: Amazon Delivery Robots Reading

5. If you saw an Amazon Scout rolling down your street, what would be your reaction?

a) I'd ignore it and carry on my way.

b) I'd film it on my phone and share it with friends.

c) I'd kick it/attempt to open it/block its path.

6. Do you think that these robots will 'clutter' the pavements?

7. What will be the effects on the following people?

a) delivery boys

b) pedestrians/other road users

c) small-time crooks

d) small fast-food providers

e) consumers

8. Can these robots be used anywhere, or will they be restricted to wealthy, well-planned neighbourhoods?

9. Is Amazon being naive here? Boris bikes (London), Velo'libe (Paris) both show that the general public do not respect other people's property, and that the most likely outcome for these robots is that they will be waylaid/vandalised. Do you agree?

10. Do local authorities need to create legislation on the use of these robots? Do they need to legislate on pedestrian behaviour towards said robots?

..........

Situation

A: You are a young hipster who has the latest tech, and you firmly believe that robotisation is the future. Persuade B of the benefits of the Amazon Scout.

B: You are an old Luddite. You believe robot deliveries are impractical and undesirable. Persuade A of the benefits of having the human touch.

...........

Discuss quotes

"It has become very obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."

- Albert Einstein

"Never trust a computer that you can't throw out of a window."

- Steve Wozniak

"Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us."

- Jason Silva

"There are three roads to ruin; women, gambling and technicians. The most pleasant is with women, the quickest is with gambling, but the surest is with technicians."

- Georges Pompidou

Student Handout PDF: Amazon Robots

Heritage Or Development?

 

1. What do you know about the city of Liverpool? Are you familiar with its musical heritage, or how sport has influenced the city? Did you know that the city had a UNESCO World Heritage status (alongside such places as the Taj Mahal, or the Great Wall of China)?

2. How do you feel about such international heritage awards? Which of the following sum up best your attitude?

a) World Heritage status helps protect our history and it would influence my choice of where to visit.

b) It's a nice thing to have but it's not vitally important.

c) World Heritage status prevents progress and keeps communities trapped in the past.

Read the article here: Heritage Or Development Reading

3. What is your reaction to the article? If you compare the two photos (2004 and 2020), the development of the area doesn't look to be so radical. Is UNESCO being heavy-handed?

4. Liverpudlians are famous for complaining, what do you imagine their attitude is towards this loss of status? Can you imagine some of the things they are saying on social media?

5. How do you rate the article's tone on this story? Is it neutral enough? Other local media outlets have focused on the fact that the decision was made in China, or that countries such as Guatemala, Mali and Kyrgyzstan took part in the vote to decide the fate of the city’s waterfront. And that one or two countries didn't even vote. Why would they do that?

6. Does your country have its own UNESCO World Heritage sites? What impact do they have on local economies? Do they help or hinder them? Do local residents organise themselves in order to protect local buildings at all? How do they do it?

7. Where is your favourite place in terms of architectural heritage? What period of history does it reflect? Does it have a protected status? 

8. Are planning laws in your country strict in terms of new developments? How much influence does money have in the decisions of whether to build or not? (Note that the current Mayor of Liverpool is under investigation for bribery in relation to property development)

9. Do you think that Liverpool's loss of status will make other UNESCO-awarded cities think twice about redevelopment?

10. Is there a city in your country that is similar to Liverpool, in terms of its location, history, and heritage?

.........

Situation

You are Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool. You are holding a press conference about the latest coronavirus statistics in the city. Attending journalists are, however, asking you questions about the city losing its UNESCO status. Explain the city's position on this issue, and inform them of what the town hall is planning to do.

..........

Discuss quotes

“As a direct result of this lack of tradition our cities and villages are becoming more and more ugly.

 Every single new building manages to increase this ugliness, and every attempt to remedy the situation only underlines the ugliness more heavily.”

— Hassan Fathy

"The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history."

 — Milan Kundera

"The suburb is a place where someone cuts down all the trees to build houses, and then names the streets after the trees."

--- Bill Vaughan

"Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike."

--- Alexander Hamilton

"The modernity of yesterday is the tradition of today, and the modernity of today will be tradition tomorrow."

--- Jose Andres

Student Handout PDF: Heritage Or Development

Photo: Olga Lioncat

Banned From Cafes: Strollers

 

1. What is your favourite coffee shop? Why do you go there? What sort of customer service do you expect from them? e.g. to be knowledgeable, courteous, responsive and timely.

Read article here: No Strollers

2.What is your reaction?

3. Would the idea of having no pushchairs, music, or laptops in a cafe appeal to you? Or would it put you off going there? Could you 'forget' your objections if they served the best coffee in town?

4. Do you believe the owner, Ralph Ruller, when he states that the ban on strollers is for safety purposes? If you don't, what do you think his motivation is for doing this?

5. The reaction to the ban has been mostly negative - do you think that the cafe deserves the title 'Café Heartless', or that they are 'socially incorrect'?

6. Are 'coffee connoisseurs' food snobs? How would you describe a stereotypical food snob? Do you have them in your country? What products can they be snobby about? (In the UK, it's usually related to wine and cheese) Sugar is banned at the 'The Barn - Roastery' as it interferes with the coffee's flavour - are you supportive of this, or do you think that it's an indication of the cafe's desire to micro-manage everything?

7. Is the Barn - Roastery and other establishments like it 'anti-family'? Do you think they represent a world that favours young, urban professionals, or is it just an innocent trend in a divided market?

8. Choose one of the following:

a) I would be happy to drink a 3 ounce espresso at the Barn-Roastery on a regular basis.

b) I would be happy to attend an angry protest outside the Barn-Roastery.

9. Are there any cafes/shops/institutions that have unusual rules in your town/country? What are they? Are they subject to media scrutiny?

..........

Situation 1

Following the media outcry, Ralph Ruller (your teacher) has decided to hire a PR assistant to handle some of the negative press. You are that PR assistant. What advice/strategies will you give him?

Situation 2

You are the health and safety officer for your local district. You are concerned by the bollard placed outside the door of the new Barn-Roastery. Speak to the proprietor (your teacher) about your concerns.

..........

Discuss quotes

"The true definition of a snob is one who craves for what separates men rather than for what unites them."

--- John Buchan

“I'm not a snob. Ask anybody. Well, anybody who matters.”

― Simon Le Bon

“Coffee is a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to your older self.”

― Terry Pratchett

“The powers of a man's mind are directly proportioned to the quantity of coffee he drinks.”

― Sir James Mackintosh

“It is a matter of economic well-being that most families be formed as mother, father, and children in a single-family household.”

― Hendrith Vanlon Smith 

"It is one of man's curious idiosyncrasies to create difficulties for the pleasure of resolving them."

--- Joseph de Maistre

Student Handout PDF here: No Strollers

Photo: Yan Krukov